Many, many Christmases ago my mother gave me a little picture with a message inside: If you can see it in your mind, you can find it in your life. It was a small stocking stuffer, something she’d found somewhere probably months before Christmas and stashed away in her gift drawer for safe keeping.

This was years before The Secret and all that power of positive thinking stuff became trendy, but the message in that small frame conveyed the same meaning. I took it to heart, and every once in a while I’d look at it and try to picture what I wanted; initially it was superficial things like a new car or wardrobe. I’d picture myself in a fabulous new dress and wish for it – a bit childish, really.

Then a couple of years ago I found myself entirely frustrated with my life and wanting to make some major changes. And though I’d lost that framed message somewhere in my many moves I thought a lot about the meaning behind those words. I was fed up with the way things were: work was unfulfilling, dating was downright sufferable and while I had a few good friends I felt they were all moving forward with love and career and I was stuck in a holding pattern.

I think before that realization, I always looked toward outside influences, things and people to make my life better. Perhaps if I went out more, I could meet the right guy. Or if I bought the right clothes or got the perfect haircut, I’d feel better. My work as a contributor to a popular celebrity gossip magazine got me into fun parties and on red carpets but I actually kind of hated the work. I liked the attention and approval I received from impressed acquaintances more than the job itself, which basically made me a typical attention-seeking Los Angelino on the fringes of show business. How utterly cliché.

Right after my visit to Ireland in the autumn of 2009, I started to think about that framed message much differently. I knew I had to change from the inside out – and that in order to truly visualize what I wanted I had to first believe anything was possible. I started by getting out of bed every morning with a sense of purpose, and I committed to starting the day with a workout at least 5 days a week. On my walk to the gym, I’d think about the kind of life I wanted for myself – I knew I wanted to live in Europe and write and meet a wonderful man and be happy. It started with general ideas and got more specific as time went on. On my walk home, I’d go over all the things in my life that I was grateful for…something I rarely thought about before then.

I also nurtured myself in other ways. Once every two weeks, I’d go to the art house cinema down the road on my own to watch a film. I remember seeing “An Education” – a movie about a British schoolgirl who dreams of traveling to Paris and reading books and eating at fabulous restaurants – and it further cemented my own dreams of moving. With a lot of hard work, a bit of luck and a good amount of faith, I got approved for permission to move and live in Ireland in early 2010.

I won’t get into all that happened after I landed – most of you already know from reading this blog (and for those who are new, welcome, and feel free to peruse the archives!). About a month after I got here, I wrote an email “from the future” to my two best friends back home, describing in detail what my life would be like in six months’ time. Again, I referred to the message in the picture frame – I pictured everything very clearly in my mind and wrote down what I saw word for word. It involved a career in writing, a great apartment and a fabulous new man. It took a little more than six months, but almost everything I wrote in that email is now my reality.

So as you prepare your New Year’s resolutions for 2012, really try and see what it is you want to accomplish and nurture that dream. If you would have told me three years ago that I’d be living in Dublin with Mountaineering Man, doing work I enjoy and feeling this fulfilled with life, I would have thought you were nuts. Don’t set any limits, just reach for the stars.

Easy Breakfast Egg Cups

I know many of you (including me!) will resolve to shed a few pounds in the new year. One of the best tips for losing weight? Make sure to eat a good breakfast! These egg cups are easy to make, loaded with protein and contain no processed carbs. Make a ten at the beginning of the week and take two for breakfast each day. Simply reheat in the microwave on medium-low for one minute.

Makes 10

8 medium eggs

200 ml low-fat milk or soy milk

1/2 red bell pepper, minced

2 spring onions, chopped

4 slices of cooked turkey rashers, chopped into small dice

3 ounces low-fat ricotta cheese

Pinch of salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 160 C. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and the milk until combined. Pour the contents evenly into a muffin tin, using only 10 out of the 12 muffin moulds. Drop in an even amount of red bell pepper, spring onion and turkey rashers into each egg mixture mould, then do the same with the ricotta cheese (just scoop out with a small spoon and plop ‘em in there!). Add a pinch of salt and pepper to each.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the egg is set; depending on your oven it may take up to 5 minutes longer. Just check and make sure it’s not wobbly in the center. Remove from the oven and let cool. Refrigerate – keeps for 5 days.

16 Responses to “ On the Subject of Resolutions ”

really appreciate this post. Feeling pretty blue and hopeless before the New Year. Maybe part of me doesn’t believe enough. Going to start trying to believe that things will really happen for me and that I deserve it. x

I’m really happy you reached Irish stars 🙂
Next year will another year of changes in my life that sure, just I don’t know what I want to do, but I mostly lucky with good instincts and knowing when to say yes and when to say no. So I’m scared, but excited at the same time.
Happy New Year Clare 🙂

This is just what I needed to read right now. I feel the same way Spud does – it’s so easy to get bogged down with the day-to-day slog and neglect the bigger dreams and goals. Here’s to dreaming big in 2012! x

Hi Clare. I read this post early this morning and it’s been on my mind since! I’m a true believer in positive thinking and would you believe that I only picked up a copy of The Secret last week and started to read it last night! I love the tale of how your dreams have come true and it’s written so eloquently. Thanks for sharing this inspiring story!

Love this post- and YAY that you found everything you hoped for. It’s funny- I, too, stopped looking to outside stuff/people to make me happy but I kind of didn’t realize it until I read this post. I used to do that all the time but haven’t even thought of it lately. So I guess that’s good!

Clare, I just wanted you to know I have been a regular “lurker” since before you moved to Ireland when you were food blogging in LA. I love your blog, stories, recipes and outlook. I thought I would de-lurk and wish you a Happy New Year. I am so glad that your dreams are coming true. This is a powerful tool you have used to see your future. In Yoga we call it Bhavana. Positive Visualization. congratulations, I think you have it mastered!

In my family, I’m kind of the black sheep—the one who reaches for the stars and gets made fun of just a little bit. In fact, the famous Les Brown quote, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars,” is in my email signature. Clare, it really does work, and you’ve proven it to yourself! If you can visualize it, you can make almost anything happen. It may take 10 years, but you’ll get there with hard work, sacrifice, and dedication. Congratulations, and may 2012 give you as many blessings as the past three years have!

A beautiful post. I can relate to a lot of whats in here. We always dreamed of moving away but felt as though our time for travelling had passed. I was teaching before we left Ireland for the US and the Leaving Certs had displayed a large poster on the wall right next to my classroom with their class motto- “If you can dream it – do it”. I passed it every day and by the end of that year – we did it. I am glad that Ireland is being good to you. May it continue for 2012 .

Great post. I just moved to the Dublin area from San Diego with my husband and 5 year old son. I’m going to make a list myself of where I would like my new life to be in 6 months time. Thanks for a great idea!

Nice to have found your blog. I’m an expat from Boston and have lived here for over 10 years. Unfortunately recently made jobless, so this post has resonance. I’m happy that things are working out so well for you here. Happy 2012!